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Calculation of LMC conference representatives

28 October 2003

To: All LMC secretaries

Dear Colleague,

Calculation of LMC conference representatives
The remit of the GPC has continued to expand to ensure that all GPs are represented irrespective of their contractual status. The current membership of the Conference of Representatives of Local Medical Committees does not reflect the inclusive nature of GPC representation. Difficulties associated with changing standing orders have contributed to this situation.

Representatives continue to be appointed on a historic basis as if all UPEs (unrestricted principals and equivalents) are “on the medical list”. The minor changes associated with changes to LMC boundaries have been managed on an ad hoc basis. With the changes to LMC recognition, the establishment of strategic health authorities in England, parallel changes in Wales, and the consequential redrawing of LMC boundaries it is now necessary to achieve a solution, which will be sustainable through future LMC or NHS reorganisation.

Last year, the LMC Conference Agenda Committee instigated a review of conference membership. The subsequent consultation paper culminated in a series of resolutions passed at last year’s conference; these are attached as appendix one.

In order to give effect to the resolutions pertaining to the number of representatives, it has been necessary for us to ascertain the number of GPs in each LMC area. We have been assisted in this work by the recent research undertaken by University of Sheffield’s School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR) for the Secsnet project. However, ScHARR did not undertake a survey of all LMCs and, where this is the case, we have used the most recent statistics (September 2002) from the Departments of Health.

Appendix two contains a list of LMCs with the number of practitioners we believe to be practising. If the figures for your LMC(s) are inaccurate, please inform me as soon as possible, no later than the 30 November. I will also need to know the method you have used to calculate your figures.

Once we have established that the data we have is correct, we will then be able to inform you of the number of representatives you are entitled to send to the Conference next year.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me, or the Chairman of Conference, Dr Canning.

Yours faithfully,

Matthew Isom
Principal Executive Officer